Senate Joins House in Passing Illinois' 2015 Budget

UPDATE: Lawmakers adjourned shortly after midnight, shortly after approving a billion dollar road construction program. The Illinois Senate joined the House in approving a 35.7-million dollar budget for 2015. Democrats acknowledge the budget is incomplete, and no Republicans supported it in Friday afternoon's Senate vote.

Credit Brian Mackey

Republicans are also labeling the budget "irresponsible." Democratic leaders wanted to extend the state's temporary income tax increase past its January expiration, but didn't have enough votes in the House in an election year. The budget doesn't account for increased costs next year. Republicans warn Democrats are planning to return after the November election to make the tax increase permanent. Lawmakers are expected to wrap up the Spring session late tonight.

Democrats started the session with an ambitious agenda: raise the minimum wage, boost college assistance for low-income students, maybe even change Illinois' flat tax into a graduated one. In the end, none of that happened.